Flip top valve for dry snorkels

Abstract

The instant invention is a valve for the top end of diving snorkels having a conduit with an open end above the water surface, and an underwater end that terminates in a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece provides a flow path between the conduit and the interior of the diver's mouth. The conduit's above water opening is in-line with the conduit's longitudinal axis. The top valve consists of a soft diaphragm mounted on a compound linkage. The linkage is attached to the conduit adjacent the top opening. A float activates the valve linkage whenever the snorkel descends below the water surface. As the open end of snorkel moves underwater, the linkage moves the diaphragm against the top opening, thereby preventing water from entering. When the top of the snorkel is above the water surface, the linkage moves the diaphragm to the side of the conduit, out of the respiratory flow path.

1 . A snorkel device comprising:
 a conduit having a first end and a second end;   a mouthpiece joined to the conduit second end;   an arm adjacent the conduit first end and connected to a seal, wherein the seal is configured to pivot with respect to the conduit from a first position where the seal does not obstruct an opening in the first end of the conduit, to a second position, where the seal covers the opening in the first end of the conduit; and   a float configured to control movement of the arm;   wherein the float and conduit are configured so that movement of the float is guided along the length of the conduit and submerging the float causes the float to move along the conduit toward the first end of the conduit, which pivots the arm from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 1  wherein the arm is configured to pivot with respect to the conduit via a linkage. 
     
     
         3 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 2  wherein the linkage is a compound linkage. 
     
     
         4 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 1  wherein the seal includes a flexible diaphragm and adjacent seat arranged to selectively provide unidirectional fluid flow from the conduit first opening to ambient when the float is at least partially underwater. 
     
     
         5 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 4  wherein:
 the flexible diaphragm is connected to the arm; and 
 the adjacent seat is housed within the conduit first end. 
 
     
     
         6 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second valve adjacent the conduit second end; 
 wherein the second valve is located to selectively provide unidirectional flow from the conduit to ambient. 
 
     
     
         7 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 1  wherein the float is guided by at least a portion of the conduit. 
     
     
         8 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 1  further comprises a protective covering surrounding at least the arm, the float, and the seal. 
     
     
         9 . A snorkel device for swimmers comprising:
 a conduit having a longitudinal axis, and first and second open ends;   a mouthpiece joined to the conduit second open end for communicating fluid flow with the conduit;   a float adapted to move relative to the conduit, where the movement of the float is guided along the length of the conduit; and   a seal positioned over the first conduit open end to provide unidirectional flow from the conduit first open end to ambient when the float is at least partially underwater;   wherein the conduit first open end is located to admit ambient fluid into the conduit substantially in line with said longitudinal axis; and   wherein the seal is controlled by the float such that the seal is displaced from the ambient fluid flow path when the float is out of the water.   
     
     
         10 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an arm adjacent the conduit first end;   wherein the arm is connected to the seal.   
     
     
         11 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 10  wherein the movement of the arm is controlled by the float. 
     
     
         12 . A snorkel device comprising:
 a conduit having first and second ends;   a mouthpiece joined to the conduit second end for communicating fluid flow with the conduit;   a float adapted to move relative to the conduit, where the movement of the float is guided along the length of the conduit;   a seal having a closed position that blocks the entry of ambient fluid into the conduit first end;   an arm connect to the seal and configured to pivot with respect to the conduit, where movement of the arm is controlled by the float;   wherein the conduit first end is positioned to admit ambient fluid into the conduit;   wherein the seal can be displaced to an open position that does not substantially interfere with the flow of fluid into and out of the conduit first end;   wherein the arm can move the seal from the open position to the closed position when the float is at least partially underwater; and   wherein the arm can move the seal from the closed position to the open position when the float is removed from water.   
     
     
         13 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second valve adjacent the conduit second open end;   wherein the second valve is arranged to selectively provide unidirectional flow from the conduit to ambient.   
     
     
         14 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 12  further comprising:
 a protective covering surrounding at least the arm, the float and the seal; 
 wherein the protective covering does not substantially interfere with the flow of fluid into and out of the conduit first end. 
 
     
     
         15 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 12  further comprises a protective covering surrounding at least the arm, the float, and the seal. 
     
     
         16 . A snorkel device comprising:
 a conduit having a longitudinal axis, and a first and a second end;   a mouthpiece joined to the conduit second end;   a buoyant device guided along the longitudinal axis of the conduit; and   a valve in mechanical connection with the buoyant device disposed adjacent to the first end of the conduit such that the valve is operated to pivot and seal and unseal the first end of the conduit in response to the longitudinal motion of the buoyant device.   
     
     
         17 . The snorkel device recited in  claim 16  further comprises a protective covering surrounding at least the valve and the buoyant device.